Wee: Tee’s proposal to meet Dr M far cry from reality

PETALING JAYA: The proposal to set up a meeting with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as suggested by a senior Johor MCA leader, is a “far cry from reality”, said party deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

Dr Wee said he was strongly against the idea of meeting with the Parti Pribumi Bersatu chairman, as proposed by Johor MCA deputy chairman Datuk Tee Siew Keong.

With MCA holding only one seat in Parliament, Dr Wee asked in a Facebook post yesterday why Dr Mahathir would agree to meet and welcome MCA.

Tee is contesting for the party’s deputy president post on Kluang MCA division leader Gan Ping Sieu’s ticket in the coming party election.

Gan is making a bid for the party presidency post in a face-off with Dr Wee.

Dr Wee, who is Ayer Hitam MP, also recalled that Tee was the first MCA party member to defy the party’s decision and accepted a state executive councillor’s position following the 2013 general election.

“The reality today is that MCA is in the opposition, so let’s work hard to be a constructive, reputable opposition party,” Dr Wee wrote, adding that the party needed to be brave in highlighting issues affecting the rakyat.

He said the party’s future lies in its members’ determination to be independent and self-reliant, and come up with practical solutions.

“Politics is not just about ministerial posts or appointments,” Dr Wee said.

On Tee’s offer to meet Dr Mahathir, Perak MCA chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, who is in a straight fight with Tee for the deputy president’s post in the Nov 4 party elections, said the Chinese would not look up to MCA for doing so.

He said the party’s task now was to become a good opposition in a two-party system.

In GEORGE TOWN, Gan denied reports that he and Tee were seeking cooperation with Pakatan Harapan.

“Tee’s statement was taken out of context as he only said in politics anything was possible and if Pakatan has the same principles as MCA, there was nothing wrong in working with them.

“There isn’t any plans to meet Dr Mahathir or cooperate with Pakatan presently,” Gan told a press conference.